Fifa task force discusses Club World Cup but not $25bn SoftBank offer

A Fifa task force responsible for analysing the possibility of a revamped Fifa Club World Cup and Global Nations League met for the first time on Sunday.

The task force was commissioned to improve the consultation process for the two events after European officials demanded more information about Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to inject them with $25bn (€22bn) from Japanese and Saudi Arabian investors.

The task force, composed of members from all six continental governing bodies, discussed “technical and sporting elements” of the new club and national team events but did not address the $25bn funding offer. Following its assessment, the task force will prepare separate proposals for the two competitions and present them to the next Fifa Council meeting on 15 March 2019 in Miami.

“The work of this task force is another important step in the consultation process to understand the landscape in which competitions like these would be implemented and what impact they would have,” said Fifa deputy secretary general (Football) and task force chair, Zvonimir Boban. “The task force should provide the Fifa Council with a complete breakdown of the sporting elements to be taken into consideration when making a decision on such an important matter for the future of football.”

During the meeting, which took place in Paris, the members of the task force were informed about parallel consultations that will also take place with other stakeholders including clubs, players and leagues.